Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion

ABSTRACT

A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/439,693, filed May 23, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/418,461, filed Oct. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.7,069,576, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/944,153, filed Oct. 6, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,141, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the presentdisclosure in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to interactive television program guide systems,and more particularly, to program guide systems that allow pay programsto be promoted as part of one or more packages.

Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers witha large number of television channels. Viewers have traditionallyconsulted printed television program schedules to determine the programsbeing broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactiveelectronic television program guides have been developed that allowtelevision program information to be displayed on a viewer's television.

Interactive program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes.Such program guides allow users to view television program listings indifferent display formats. For example, a user may desire to view a gridof program listings organized in a channel-ordered list. Alternatively,the user may desire to view program listings organized by time, by theme(movies, sports, etc.), or by title (i.e., alphabetically ordered). Auser may purchase a pay program from a program guide by placing ahighlight region on a desired program listing and pressing an “OK”button.

Cable system operators sometimes offer pay programming in packages.Various types of packages are available. For example, a “time block”package allows a user to purchase a block of time on a particularchannel. A “pay-per-day” package includes multiple consecutive airingsof a single program. A “special event” package includes a number ofspecial programming events. A “season ticket” package includes allsports programs of a specific league or team for the duration of thesports season. A “premium multiplex” package includes authorization formore than one premium subscription channel and typically is availablefor a monthly fee. An “a la carte” package includes authorization for aselectable subset of a number of subscription channels.

A user may order a package by calling a customer service representativeor by using an automated phone ordering system. However, it hasgenerally not been possible to use program guides to order packages orto obtain information on packages. As a result, users often use programguides to purchase pay programs individually without realizing that thepurchased programs are part of an available package.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninteractive television program guide that supplies information on payprogram packages and facilitates the ordering of such packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the present invention by providing a system thatallows a user to select a pay program for purchase from an interactiveprogram guide. The program guide determines whether the selected programis part of one or more packages of pay programs. If the selected programis part of a package of programs, the user is provided with informationregarding the package; so that the user may purchase the package ifdesired. If the selected program is part of multiple packages,information on each package may be provided.

When a user purchases a package, the program guide determines whetherthe package contains repetitive programming (e.g., whether the packageinvolves the continuous broadcast of a single movie during a given 24hour period). If the package contains repetitive programming, theprogram guide automatically sets reminders for each program in thepackage subsequent to any reminder set by the user. Just before thescheduled broadcast time of each program in the package, the programguide displays a suitable reminder message on the user's television.

The program guide monitors the user's activity to determine whether theuser has watched any of the programs in a repetitive package (e.g., bydetermining whether the user has turned on the set-top box and tuned theset-top box to the channel for a program in the package during itsscheduled broadcast time.) If the user has not watched any of theprograms in the package, the program guide continues to issue remindersjust before each program is broadcast. Once the user watches one of theprograms in the package, the remainder of the reminders are cancelled.

The program guide also monitors the user's activity to determine whetherthe user has failed to watch any of the programs in purchased package.If the user does not watch any of the programs in a purchased package,the program guide cancels the purchase. The user may be provided with anopportunity to reschedule the cancelled package if the package is stillavailable for purchase.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative program guide display screen in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative package description record inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative package component service recordin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative package component event record inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in purchasing payprograms and packages of pay programs in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative program guide display screen for use whenpurchasing a program that is part of a single package and not availablefor purchase individually in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative program guide display screen for use whenpurchasing a program that is part of multiple packages or isindividually purchasable as well as being part of a package inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative program guide display screen for use whenpurchasing a subscription to a channel that is part of a package ofchannels available for subscription in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in settingautomatic reminders for purchased programs in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in cancelling andrescheduling pay program purchases in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An illustrative program guide system 20 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 22 provides televisionprogram data from program guide database 24 to television distributionfacility 26 via communications link 28. Link 28 may be a satellite link,a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link,a combination such links, or any other suitable communications path.Television distribution facility 26 may be a cable system headend, abroadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distributionfacility.

The program data transmitted by main facility 22 to televisiondistribution facility 26 includes television program listings data suchas program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc. Transmittedprogram data also includes pay program data such as pricing informationfor individual programs and packages, time windows for ordering programsand packages, telephone numbers for placing orders that cannot beimpulse ordered, etc. If desired, some of this data may be providedusing data sources at facilities other than main facility 22. Forexample, data related to pay program order processing (e.g., billingdata and the like) may be generated by an order processing and. billingsystem that is separate from television distribution facility 26.

Television distribution facility 26 distributes the program data tomultiple users via communications paths 30. Each user has usertelevision equipment 32. Program data may be distributed to usertelevision equipment 32 periodically (e.g., once each week). Televisiondistribution facility 26 may also poll user equipment 32 periodicallyfor certain information (e.g., pay program account information orinformation regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed usinglocally-generated authorization techniques).

User television equipment 32 typically contains equipment such asset-top box 34, an optional videocassette recorder 36, and television38. Set-top box 24 may be controlled by remote control 40 or other userinput interface such as a wireless keyboard, mouse, trackball, etc.

Set-top box 34 contains a microprocessor and other circuitry forexecuting instructions to support an interactive television programguide with pay-per-view services. The program guide may be implementedon set-top box 34 or May be implemented on user television equipmentother than a set-top box if desired. For clarity, the present inventionwill be illustrated in connection with a set-top box implementation.

Communications paths 30 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allowtelevision distribution facility 26 to distribute scheduled televisionprogramming, pay programming, and other video information to userequipment 32 in addition to program data. If desired, program data maybe distributed by one or more distribution facilities that are similarto but separate from television distribution facility 26 usingcommunications paths that are separate from communications paths 30.

Certain functions such as pay program purchasing may require userequipment 32 to transmit data to distribution facility 26 overcommunications paths 30. If desired, such data may be transmitted overtelephone lines or other separate communications paths (not shown). Iffunctions such as these are provided using facilities separate fromtelevision distribution facility 26, some of the communications withuser equipment 32 may be made directly to the separate facilities.

Multiple television channels (analog, digital, or both analog anddigital) may be provided to set-top box 34 via communications path 30.During normal television viewing, the user tunes set-top box 34 to adesired one of these channels. The signal for that television channelmay be provided at video output 42 as a radio-frequency (RF) signal on apredefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4) or as a demodulated videosignal. The video signal at output 42 is received by optionalvideocassette recorder 36, so that the user may record programs. Programrecording and other features may be controlled by set-top box 34 usingcontrol path 44.

Television 38 may receive RF or demodulated video signals fromvideocassette recorder 36 via path 46. The video signals on path 46 mayeither be generated by videocassette recorder 36 when playing back aprerecorded videocassette or may by passed through from set-top box 34.The video signals provided to television 38 are typically real-timevideo signals such as for broadcast television programs or pay programs.

Remote control 40 may have cursor keys, an “enter,” “select,” or “OK”button, a “guide” button, a “record” button, and various other controlbuttons. When the user presses the “guide” button, set-top box 34invokes the interactive program guide and displays an appropriate screenof program listings on television 38.

A typical program guide display is a grid of television program listingssuch as grid 48 of FIG. 2. Each row of grid 48 contains program listingsinformation for a different television channel such as the networkchannels or the pay channels shown in FIG. 2. Columns of grid 48 areassociated with different scheduled broadcast times for the programs(e.g., 9:00 PM, 9:30 PM, and 10:00 PM). The program listings format ofgrid 48 is illustrative only. Any other suitable type of programlistings display format may be used, such as a table or other list.Moreover, grid 48 is only one display screen of many display screensthat are generally presented to the user during use of the programguide. Other program guide display screens are generated for promotingpay programs and packages of pay programs, for setting reminders, andfor ordering pay programming.

In a program listings grid such as grid 48 of FIG. 2 and other programguide display screens, a highlight region such as highlight region 50may be used to define the current position of the user. The userpositions highlight region 50 using the cursors on remote control 40(FIG. 1). If highlight region 50 is positioned on a pay program that theuser desires to purchase, the user can order that program by pressingthe “OK,” “enter,” or “select” button. This causes the program guide todisplay various pay program ordering menus on television 38.

The “OK” button can be used in conjunction with the cursor keys tonavigate through program guide menus and to respond to various queriesfrom the program guide. If desired, the functions of the dedicated “OK,”“guide,” and “record,” buttons and various other control buttons onremote control 40 may be provided in the form of suitable menu optionsthat the user may select using the cursor keys and a button such as the“OK” button. In addition, other dedicated buttons may be provided onremote control 40 if desired.

When a user selects a pay program for purchase from the program guide(e.g., by pressing the “OK” button after highlighting a desired programlisting in grid 48), the system determines whether the program is partof a package of pay programs available from the operator of televisiondistribution facility 26. If the program is part of a package,information about the package is provided to the user in the form ofvarious informative messages displayed on television 38.

Information concerning the various pay program packages that areavailable may be provided to set-top box 34 from program guide database24 via television distribution facility 26. Suitable data structures forhandling pay program packages are shown in FIGS. 3-5. As shown in FIG.3, each package may have an associated package description record 52.Package description record 52 has package title 54, package textdescription 56, and ordering information 58. Ordering information 58 mayinclude a telephone number for placing telephone orders, an expirationdate for the offer, a time window for ordering, and package typeinformation (e.g., whether the package is a time block package, apay-per-day package, etc.) Each package description record 52 alsoincludes package identifier 60 and component list 62. Component list 62is a list of package components, such as the channels that make up apackage of premium channels or the individual programs that make up apackage of multiple programs.

The provider of the package may not wish to make all of the componentsof the package optional. For example, a premium multiplex package mayinclude. one or more mandatory premium channels in addition to a varietyof optional channels. The number of channels that are optional in such apackage is included in the package description record 52 (i.e., count ofnumber of optional items 64).

Each component in the component list 62 preferably has either anassociated package component service record 66 (FIG. 4) (e.g., if thepackage is a package of services such as premium channels) or a packagecomponent event record 68 (FIG. 5) (e.g., if the package is a package ofindividual programs).

As shown in FIG. 4, each package component service record 66 preferablyincludes package identifier 70 and channel identifier 72. Packageidentifier 70 is used to indicate the packages with which componentservice record 66 is associated. Channel indicator 72 identifies eachcomponent (e.g., by its call letters or other suitable label).Optional/mandatory flag 74 is used to indicate whether the componentassociated with the package component service record 66 is an optionalor a mandatory component. Subscription/block-of-time flag 76 is used toindicate whether the component is associated with a subscription packageor is associated with a block of time on a channel. If the component isassociated with a time block package, the start and stop time of thetime block are preferably provided with subscription/time block flag 76.

As shown in FIG. 5, each package component event record 68 preferablyincludes package identifier 78 and individual event identifier 80.Optional/mandatory flag 82 is used to indicate whether the componentassociated with the package component event record 68 is an optional ora mandatory component.

One illustrative package is a premium multiplex package. The packagedescription record 52 (FIG. 3) of such a package may have a packagetitle 54 of “Movie Lovers Special.” The package text description 56 maybe “Subscribe to any 3 premium channels for $5.99/month.” Orderinginformation 58 may include information identifying the package as apremium multiplex package. The components in component list 62 may bepremium movie channels. Count of number of optional items 64 may be 7.

Each premium channel in component list 62 has an associated packagecomponent service record 66 (FIG. 4). The package identifier 70 in eachsuch package component service record 66 identifies the associatedpremium multiplex package. The channel identifiers 72 of each premiumchannel may be the call letters of the channel. Optional/mandatory flag74 may be set to “mandatory” for some of the components in componentlist 62 and set to “optional” for other components. Subscription/timeblock flag 76 may be set to “subscription.”

Another illustrative package is a package of Olympic swimming events.The package description record 52 (FIG. 3) of such a package may have apackage title 54 of “Olympic Swimming.” The package text description 56may be “Enjoy 3 days of swimming events.” Ordering information 58 mayinclude information identifying the package as a special event package.Component list 62 may include swimming events such as men's 100 mfreestyle, women's 100 m backstroke, men's 400 m relay, etc. Count ofnumber of optional items 64 may be “none.”

Each swimming event in componeht list 62 may have an associated packagecomponent event record 68 (FIG. 5). The package identifier 78 in eachsuch . package component event record 68 identifies the associatedOlympic swimming package. Individual event identifiers 80 uniquelyidentify each event. Optional/mandatory flag 82 may be set to“mandatory” for each swimming event component in list 62.

These examples are illustrative only. Pay programs may be provided inany suitable type of pay program packages. Package types that may beused include a “time block” package that allows a user to purchase ablock of time on a particular channel, a “pay-per-day” package thatincludes multiple consecutive airings of a single program, a “specialevent” package that includes multiple components of special programmingevents, a “season ticket” package that include all sports programs of aspecific league or team for the duration of the sports season, a“premium multiplex” package that includes authorization for more thanone premium subscription channel, an “a la carte” package that mayinvolve authorization for a selectable subset of a number ofsubscription channels, etc.

When the user selects a program for purchase, the interactive electronicprogram guide implemented on set-top box 34 determines whether theselected program is part of a package. If the selected program is partof a package, the program guide provides the user with information onthe package. Steps involved in this process are shown in FIG. 6.

At step 84, the program guide allows a user to select a program forpurchase (e.g., by highlighting a desired program listing in a grid suchas grid 48 of

FIG. 2). At step 86, the program guide checks its database (stored inmemory in set-top box 34) to determine whether the selected event is apurchasable pay program. If the selected event is not a pay program, atstep 88 the system tunes to the channel for the selected event (if theevent is currently being broadcast) or allows the user to set up areminder (if the event is scheduled to be broadcast in the future).

If the selected event is purchasable, at step 90 the system determineswhether the selected program is part of a single package or multiplepackages and whether it is purchasable individually. If the program isnot part of a package, the price, starting time, channel, etc. of theselected program may be displayed at step 92.

The user's options after the price and other information regarding theselected program have been displayed at step 92 depend on theavailability of the program for impulse purchasing from the programguide. If the operator at television distribution facility 32 has notmade the selected program impulse purchasable to users, the user musttypically order the program by telephone. Information to facilitate suchtelephone orders (e.g., the telephone number to call for ordering, theordering time window, etc.) is displayed on television 38 at step 94. Ifthe selected program is available for impulse purchase from the programguide, the user is allowed to confirm purchase of the selected programat step 96. Steps 94 and 96 may be performed using the same displayscreen that is used in performing step 92.

If at step 90 the program guide determined that the selected program ispart of a single package and is not purchasable individually, thepackage of which the program is a part is displayed at step 98. Forexample, if the selected program is a women's 400 m butterfly swimmingevent and that program is part of the Olympic swimming package, aninformative message such as message 100 of FIG. 7 may be displayed ontelevision 38. Message 100 contains the package title 102, package price104, package description 106, and may include a list of the events 108that make up the package. The user may select the package for purchase(e.g., by placing a highlight on top of package title 102 or on top ofan on-screen “order” button with cursors and pressing an “OK” button orby any other suitable technique).

If the user selects the package for purchase at step 98, the user isprovided with an opportunity to complete the purchase of the package atstep 110 or 112. If the program is not available for impulse purchasefrom the program guide, the telephone number and time window forordering the program may be displayed at step 110. If the program isavailable for impulse purchase, the program guide allows the user toconfirm the purchase of the selected program at step 112. The displayscreen used in performing steps 110 and 112 may be the same displayscreen used in performing step 98.

If at step 90 the program guide determined that the selected program ispart of multiple packages or is individually purchasable as well asbeing part of a package, the program guide lists all available programpurchase options and their prices at step 114. For example, if theselected program is men's 100 m freestyle and that event is availableeither as part of the Olympic swimming package, the Olympic swimminghighlights package, or for purchase as an individual event, a messagesuch as message 116 of FIG. 8 may be displayed. The user may select theone of the packages or the individual event for purchase (e.g., using ahighlight and an “OK” button) at step 114. If the user selects anindividual program for purchase, purchasing information (price, startingtime, channel, etc.) for that program may be displayed at step 92 andthe program purchased in steps 94 or 96. If the user selects one of thepackages for purchase, the contents of each package is displayed at step98 and the user is allowed to purchase that package in steps 110 or 112.

If desired, a user who selects an individual channel for purchase may bepresented with information on packages which contain the selectedchannel. For example, a user who selects a particular premium moviechannel for purchase may be provided with a display screen such asdisplay screen 118 of FIG. 9. In the example of FIG. 9, the userselected channel C for purchase. Because channel C is available forpurchase as part of the movie lovers package, the user is provided withinformation on the contents of that package. Channels V and S aremandatory channels. Channels H, C, D, M, and K are optional channels.

Another aspect of the invention relates to setting reminders forprograms that are part of packages. If a reminder has been set, set-topbox 34 will generate a reminder message on the display of television 38just prior to the scheduled broadcast time of the program. Any suitabletype of reminder may . be generated. For example, a reminder may begenerated that asks if the user wishes to tune to the selected program.If the user answers affirmatively, set-top box 34 tunes to the channelfor the selected program. A reminder might also be generated that simplyreminds the user that the selected program is about to begin. Anothertype of reminder that may be used automatically tunes set-top box 34 toits associated event at the scheduled start time of the event.

Steps involved in setting program reminders for packages are shown inFIG. 10. At step 120, the user is provided with an opportunity to selecta package from the program guide for purchase. The program guidedetermines whether the selected package is a package of channels. If theselected package is a package of channels, no reminders are set (step122).

If the package is a package of programs, the program guide determineswhether the package contains repetitive programming at step 124. Atypical package that contains repetitive programming is a pay-per-daymovie package in which the same movie is broadcast repeatedly over a 24hour period. The user may watch the movie during any of its broadcastsduring the 24 hour period.

If the program guide determines that the package does not containrepetitive programming at step 124, the program guide automatically setsprogram reminders for all programs in the package at step 126. Justbefore each program is aired, the program guide displays a suitablereminder at step 128.

If the program guide determines that the package contains repetitiveprogramming at step 124, the program guide provides the user with anopportunity to set a program reminder at step 129. The program guideautomatically sets program reminders for all subsequent programs in thepackage at step 130. The program guide monitors whether the user haswatched any of the programs in the package at step 132 (e.g., bydetermining whether set-top box 34 has been turned on and tuned to thechannel for a given program during its scheduled broadcast time). If theuser has not yet watched any of the programs in the package, a reminderis displayed for the next scheduled program in the package at step 134.However, if the user watches one of the programs in the repetitiveprogramming package, at step 136 the program guide cancels the remainderof the program reminders that were set at step 132. This approachprevents the program guide from generating numerous unwanted remindersfor the unwatched broadcasts in a pay-per-day package after the user haswatched one of the broadcasts.

Sometimes it may not be possible for a user to watch any of the programsin a package that the user has purchased. The program guide may handlethis type of situation using the approach shown in FIG. 11. At step 138,the program guide allows a user to purchase a package of programs (e.g.,by highlighting a desired package, pressing the “OK” button, etc.) Atstep 140, the program guide monitors the user's activity to determinewhether the user has watched any of the programs in the package (e.g.,by determining whether the user has turned on set-top box 34 and tunedto the appropriate channel during the scheduled broadcast time of aprogram in the package). If the user has not watched any of the programsin the package, the program guide cancels the purchase of the package atstep 142. If desired, the cancellation of the purchased package at step142 may take place at the expiration of the “purchase window” for thepackage, which is typically somewhat shorter in length than the entirepackage and which typically expires a half hour or hour before the endof the package. The program guide displays a message informing the userthat the user will not be billed for the cancelled package at step 144.

Because the user was interested in the package, the program guide alsodetermines if there is a similar package still available (e.g., anotherpay-per-day package for the same program that is available on anotherday). If a similar package is available, the program guide presents theuser with an opportunity to reschedule the purchase of the package atstep 146.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A program guide system that allows a user to purchase pay programs,comprising user equipment on which an interactive program guideapplication is implemented, wherein the interactive program guideapplication is configured to: provide the user with an opportunity toselect an individually-purchasable pay program for purchase from a setof program listings; determine whether the selected program is part ofmultiple packages of pay programs; and present information on themultiple packages of which the selected individually-purchasable payprogram is a part when the selected individually-purchasable pay programis a part of multiple packages so that the user may decide whether topurchase a package from the multiple packages.